This page contains information about Temple University’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its universitywide efforts to plan for a safe and thoughtful return to our campuses.

The university continues to follow the guidelines and restrictions put in place through local, state, and federal governments, as well as guidance issued by public health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Campus Return Planning FAQ

Yes. On June 2, 2020, President Richard M. Englert announced Temple’s plans for a safe return to in-person operations on campus for the fall 2020 semester, should conditions allow. The university’s resumption of in-person operations will hinge on the whole university community, as well as visitors to campus, observing four important public-health measures to ensure everyone’s health and safety. These pillars are: use of face coverings, social distancing, frequent hand washing and personal health monitoring.

Facilities management staff members are working diligently to make the necessary changes to physical spaces on campus to facilitate a healthy environment, such as new plexiglass shields in reception areas to ensure safe separation in places where distancing might be difficult and the removal of some seats in public spaces to de-densify areas as much as possible.

As long as infection rates remain at lower levels and state and local guidelines permit, classes will be conducted in a hybrid manner that blends in-person and online instruction. In an effort to preserve public health and prepare for a safe spring 2021 semester, in-person activities and instruction will end Nov. 20, at the start of fall break, for the remainder of the fall semester.

Public health pillars:
Everyone on campus will be expected to adhere to four important public-health pillars: use of face coverings, social distancing, frequent hand washing and personal health monitoring. Details on each pillar are below.

Face coverings: Everyone must wear face coverings in buildings, and their use is encouraged everywhere on campus. Masks will be available for those who don’t already have them and for those visiting campus.

Frequent hand washing: In addition to encouraging our community members to wash their hands frequently, hand sanitizer stations will soon be installed throughout Temple’s campuses, along with reminders to avoid touching your face after touching surfaces.

Maintaining a safe space between you and others: Social distancing reminders will be affixed on floors and walls of campus buildings to ensure that everyone remains at a safe distance when on-campus operations resume. Classrooms and other common spaces will have similar distancing requirements.

Monitoring your own health on a daily basis: Taking your temperature, watching for other symptoms and, if warranted, seeking help through your primary care physician or Student and Employee Health Services are important for everyone on campus.

Calendar changes:
Further, in-person activities and instruction for the fall 2020 semester will end after Nov. 20, at the start of the fall break. The semester will be completed remotely to minimize the possibility of a recurrent outbreak and to allow for planning and preparation for the spring 2021 semester.

Testing and tracing:
As part of the return to campus, the university will continue—and enhance—the campus testing and contact tracing initiative. Student and Employee Health Services have been testing for the virus since the testing materials became available, and that work is continuing. The testing operation will be enhanced by shifting the test site from 1700 N. Broad St. to a space that will become available on Cecil B. Moore Avenue, on the street level of the Morgan Hall tower. With its own entrance and a new reservation system, this location will allow provision of local testing to Temple students and staff. More information about this site will be announced at a later date.
The Health Services team will be bringing on a contact tracing unit that will allow the opportunity to provide greater information to city and state health officials in the event that someone in the university community tests positive.

Ongoing university-affiliated travel suspensions
Currently, all university-sponsored, connected, or funded international travel by students, faculty and staff is suspended. These restrictions are in effect for students through Aug. 15, and for faculty and staff through June 30. Domestic travel for all is still strongly discouraged.

This decision will be updated on the 15th of each month, based on international, national, state and local guidance. Given the uncertainty of the situation, faculty, staff and students should be prepared to postpone (or cancel) any programs or work that require travel, or be prepared to transition to an alternative, remote mode of delivery.

Changes to physical spaces to facilitate distancing and healthy environments
Plexiglass shields will be installed in reception areas to ensure safe separation in places where distancing might be difficult, and reminders to remain at least six feet apart in public areas will be affixed to floors and walls in campus buildings. Some seating will also be removed in public spaces to reduce density in common areas as much as possible. Hand sanitizer stations will also be installed in campus buildings.

Preparations to respond to a rapidly changing situation
Responding to the coronavirus pandemic has required the university, like other institutions, to be nimble when it is necessary to preserve the health and safety of our community. The university will be ready to pivot to primarily online instruction at any point during the fall semester should it be required.

Reduced in-person classes and hybrid education
All in-person instruction will be conducted in a way that preserves everyone’s health and allows for appropriate social distancing, and a blend of in-person and online education will be utilized. Classes that are typically very large will be taught online and in smaller break-out sessions to limit the number of people gathered.

Yes. In-person activities and instruction for the fall 2020 semester will end Nov. 20, at the start of the fall break. The remaining week of classes, study period and finals would then be conducted remotely.

Doing this will offer several advantages, not the least of which is giving university leadership an opportunity to assess the fall semester’s success, minimize the possibility of a recurrence and finalize plans for the spring 2021 semester.

Yes. Similar to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Temple will employ a phased approach for reopening over the next few months, with each phase allowing for additional people on campus in a strictly regulated fashion. As part of this effort, new protocols for keeping buildings clean and employees safe are being put into place.

The university is currently in phase one of reopening. In phase one, in addition to the essential medical and safety staff who have been on campus throughout this period, small teams of construction and facilities workers who are making changes to buildings, such as adding plexiglass shields in reception areas and removing some seating in common areas, are slowly being brought back to campus.

The second phase, starting later in June, will see an increase in research activities at select locations on Temple’s campuses. Many of Temple’s groundbreaking researchers, including those at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, are focusing on COVID-19. While some are coming up with new and more effective treatments, other researchers are delving into the mysteries of the virus to help find a cure. This second phase will also see increasing activity in clinics at locations like the Kornberg School of Dentistry and our School of Podiatric Medicine. These clinics continue to address the needs of our neighbors, who rely on Temple for vital treatment.

The third phase will be introduced on June 23, the beginning of the Summer II session. Almost all classes will be online for Summer II. However, a small number of classes will resume on campus, primarily those taught through the College of Public Health. These classes require in-person instruction, and the students enrolled in them have been apprised of the university’s plan. During this phase, a number of protocols and procedures will be pilot tested in preparation for larger numbers of students in the fall.

During phase four, growing numbers of people on campus are anticipated beginning Aug. 1 as students move into the neighborhood.

The final phase will begin as students move into university residence halls in mid-August on dates as they are assigned, followed by fall semester classes beginning on Aug. 24. Given reduced infection rates and authorization from state and local authorities, a blend of in-person and online instruction will take place during the fall semester. Very large classes will occur online and in various break-out sessions. Other classes will occur in person and in hybrid fashion.

While our campus will look different, we do believe a campus presence is not only possible, but can be done safely.

The university has convened the Return Team made up of key representatives of every area within our campus. This group meets daily to build out scenarios for what campus life could look like over the next several months. Every member of this team is committed to devising and implementing return plans that maximize safety while ensuring that quality teaching, education and research can continue to take place. More than 150 dedicated staff members, faculty members and administrators have been involved in planning for a safe return to campus in the fall.

Pennsylvania plans to proceed with returning to work cautiously. Broad reopenings or reopenings that are not structured around ongoing social distancing, universal masking, or other public health guidance would likely result in a spike of cases and new stay-at-home and closure orders.

The commonwealth is using a three-phase matrix to determine when counties and/or regions are ready to begin easing some restrictions on work, congregate settings, and social interactions. More information is available at governor.pa.gov.

Temple will follow the guidelines and restrictions put in place through local, state and federal governments. We will also continue to follow and comply with guidance issued by public health organizations, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

An Academic Team, which will evaluate the impacts of various return scenarios on academic functions such as teaching and learning, clinical, student placements, enrollment, international.

An Operations Team, which will evaluate the impacts of various return scenarios on university operations such as housing, facilities, business services and emergency management.

A Student Life Team, which will evaluate the impacts of various return scenarios on student life functions including university housing, student engagement, student services, student programs and non-academic issues.

A Business Team, which will evaluate the impacts of various return scenarios on university business functions including human resources, information technology, facilities and purchasing.

A Research Team, which will evaluate the impacts of various return scenarios on the university’s research operations.

The scenarios under consideration envision a broad range of possibilities, from a slightly modified traditional semester, to a blend of smaller classes, continued online teaching and gatherings that are limited in size, or anticipate greater use of online options. Details of the four scenarios follow.

Reasonably normal, which will allow for in-person learning and on-campus residence, but require students, faculty and staff to wear face coverings. Mass gatherings will not be allowed and large lecture-style classes will be reduced. Recreational facilities will be available with extra cleaning. NCAA activities will resume.

Restricted semester, which allows for some in-person learning but limits gatherings to less than 25–50 people. Restrictions will be placed on housing and sports and recreation. Campus dining will provide take-out meals only. NCAA activities will resume with restrictions.

Essentials only, which allows for heavily restricted in-person instruction and housing. Gatherings will be limited to fewer than 25 people. No sports and recreation will be allowed. Campus dining will provide take-out meals only. NCAA activities will remain suspended.

Comprehensive remote, which minimizes in-person learning by restricting gatherings to 10 or fewer people. Essential employees will return or remain on campus. Research operations will be prioritized. Student, faculty and staff support measures will be enhanced for remote learning and working environments.

The university remains committed to carefully monitoring and responding to new information about COVID-19 and its impacts. In developing the four return scenarios, it is understood that our plans must be flexible and include contingencies for changing conditions over time. We are prepared to deviate from outlined plans in order to take swift actions to keep our community safe.

Temple is surveying students, faculty and staff about their perspectives and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results of the survey, in addition to government mandates and public health guidelines, will be used in the Return Team's planning.

Yes. Student and Employee Health Services began testing members of the university community for COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, as soon as testing became available. This testing program will continue and will be moved into a more easily accessible location on the ground floor of Morgan Hall, which has its own entrance, to ensure that testing can continue to be provided throughout the fall semester for students, faculty and staff.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors will also be expected to adhere to social distancing guidelines, wear face coverings while on campus, wash their hands often, and monitor their own health for signs or symptoms of any illness, including COVID-19.

Public Health Best Practices

Temple’s highest priority is protecting the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, visitors and surrounding community while continuing the university’s mission of academic and research excellence.

We know that in the fight against coronavirus, everyone plays a key role. As we return to campus, important public-health measures will be implemented to continue ensuring a healthy environment for all.

Social distancing, or physical distancing from others outside of your household, is an important measure to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in public places. Social distancing means avoiding gathering in large groups, staying out of crowded areas, and leaving at least six feet of space between yourself and anyone who lives outside your household when in public. Upon the return to campus, social distancing policies and guidelines will be implemented inside campus buildings to ensure everyone’s health.

Thorough hand washing is one of the most important steps everyone can take to prevent the spread of coronavirus and other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu. You should wash your hands often, using soap and water, for at least 20 seconds (about the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice). In the absence of soap and water, you should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Read these CDC guidelines for hand-washing and sanitizing best practices.

To protect the health of the university community, students, faculty and staff are urged to closely monitor their own health, checking their temperature daily before coming to campus. If anyone has a temperature of 100.4 degrees (F) or higher, or is experiencing any other symptoms of COVID-19 (including but not limited to dry cough, shortness of breath, chills, body aches, loss of taste or smell, and extreme fatigue), they must stay home and contact Student or Employee Health Services. Use the CDC Self-Checker for additional guidance. The university is working to increase capacity for testing on campus, contact tracing, and isolation and quarantine in residence halls should any residential students contract the virus.

Staying Healthy

As we transition back to in-person activities on campus, the health and safety of every individual in our community is the highest priority. Preventing the spread of the coronavirus and similar illnesses requires a collective effort to protect ourselves and those around us.

Tips for Staying Healthy

Everyone has an important role to play in preventing the spread of the coronavirus and other respiratory illnesses. There are many simple steps everyone can take to keep themselves and others healthy. These include:

frequently washing your hands using soap and water for at least 20 seconds (the time it takes to sing the “Happy Birthday” song twice);

using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol in the absence of soap and water;

wearing a face covering over your nose and mouth when in public places where it is difficult to maintain social distancing from others (read tips on face coverings from the CDC here);

adhering to social distancing guidelines by staying at least six feet away from others in public places and avoiding large gatherings;

staying home and contacting your healthcare provider if you develop symptoms of illness, especially cough, shortness of breath, fever, severe fatigue, gastrointestinal issues, loss of sense of taste or smell, or muscle aches; and

following directives issued by the CDC as well as local and state government and health authorities.

COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, is mainly spread between people when they are in close contact, or within six feet of each other. The virus is spread through respiratory droplets that are produced when a person who is infected coughs, sneezes or talks, and those droplets are inhaled by someone else. Some people infected with COVID-19 do not display any symptoms but can still spread the virus.

If you are sick—especially with symptoms of cough, difficulty breathing, fever or chills, sore throat, shortness of breath, or loss of taste or smell—contact your healthcare provider, Student Health Services (215-204-7500) or Employee Health Services (215-204-2679). Be sure to tell them your symptoms and inform if you believe you may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19. They can further screen you for COVID-19 and, if needed, help you get tested and recommend the next steps you should take.

Social distancing means maintaining a safe physical distance from people not in your immediate household. Because the coronavirus spreads from person to person in close contact settings, keeping at least six feet of distance from others reduces the likelihood of transmission of the virus from person to person. Social distancing also means avoiding gathering in groups and staying out of crowded places.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health currently recommends testing for COVID-19 for anyone with symptoms of cough, shortness of breath, or any combination of fever, muscle pain, chills, new loss of sense of smell or taste, and sore throat. Testing in Philadelphia is currently being prioritized for people who are hospitalized, have chronic medical conditions, work in congregate care or healthcare settings, are public safety or other essential workers, or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19. Read more.

Spring 2020 COVID-19 Response

The information below is from Temple University’s response to the spread of the novel coronavirus during the spring 2020 semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

Suspension of Normal Campus Operations

In line with orders given by the City of Philadelphia and Commonwealth Pennsylvania, all non-essential employees of Temple University have been instructed to work remotely until further notice. Resources for working remotely are available online through Information Technology Services.

For students and faculty, online and alternative learning began Monday, March 16. The last day of in-person academic activity for the spring 2020 semester was Friday, March 13.

Summer I classes are being conducted online, and, as part of a phased approach to resuming in-person operations on campus, a very small number of select summer II courses that require in-person instruction will be conducted on campus, while the majority of instruction will continue online.

No. The last day of in-person classes for the spring 2020 semester was Friday, March 13. Courses resumed through online and alternative learning methods on Monday, March 16. Summer I and II courses will continue mainly online, with some exceptions in summer II.

For the fall 2020 semester, more on-campus instruction will resume with health and safety measures in place, including a reduction in the number of students in each classroom made possible by the use of measures including a hybrid model of in-person and online education and smaller break-out sessions.

Student workers should continue to discuss the situation with their supervisors. Some may be able to continue working on campus if they are willing and able to do so, others may be able to work remotely and some may not be able to work at all for the time being, depending on their positions. If your role as a student worker is ending and you would like to know about the possibility of employment in other areas, Student Affairs will be providing information to connect students with other opportunities to the extent that they exist.

As Temple University implements a social distancing strategy to address concerns surrounding the coronavirus, Campus Recreation facilities on Main Campus will be closed from the end of business, 11 p.m., on Thursday, March 12, 2020, until further notice.

As of now, all Campus Recreation programs are suspended, with the following exceptions.

Group Fitness sessions suspended operation as of 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2020, and will remain suspended until further notice.

Sport Club activity was suspended as of 8 a.m. Friday, March 13, 2020, and will remain suspended until further notice.

University Response and Travel Information

Temple has been providing regular updates to the university community via universitywide emails and regular updates to both this website and TUportal. Please refer to these resources first for any questions you may have.

The university has implemented a social distancing strategy to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and suspended in-person classes after March 13, 2020. Online instruction in all courses officially began on Monday, March 16 and is continuing through the duration of the summer I semester. During this time, all in-person events on U.S. campuses have also been suspended. Leadership has convened a Return Team of administrators, faculty and staff members from various areas across the university who are diligently working to prepare for a safe return to campus in the fall. Learn more.

University administrators and health officials are closely monitoring the outbreak, are in frequent contact with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, are following all directives issued by local, state and federal authorities, and will continue to communicate any significant updates to the university community.

Most importantly, if you develop a fever, cough or have difficulty breathing, you should immediately contact health care professionals—your family physician, local health authorities, or Student or Employee Health. You should call before visiting any health care provider so that appropriate precautions can be taken.

All common areas, particularly places that many people touch (such as doorknobs, elevator buttons and railings), are being cleaned with hospital-grade quaternary disinfectant A-456II, which is a product listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as protective against COVID-19. All bathrooms are cleaned and sanitized daily.

General Information

A coronavirus is a type of virus that can cause a wide range of illnesses, from the common cold to severe pneumonia. The novel coronavirus at the center of the current epidemic has been named SARS-CoV-2, and the illness it causes has been named COVID-19 (abbreviation for coronavirus disease 2019). This is a new strain of coronavirus.

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include chills, cough, fever, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. Symptoms and their severity vary widely from person to person, and some people infected with the virus may exhibit no symptoms at all but still be able to spread it. If you are concerned you could have the virus, consult the CDC’s symptom self-checker tool.

It is spread through direct contact with saliva or respiratory droplets, similar to a cold or the flu. According to the CDC, person-to-person spread of this coronavirus is most likely to occur with close contact, or contact within six feet, with an infected person who coughs or sneezes.

As Temple University prepares for a return to campus for the fall 2020 semester, Student and Employee Health Services are working to increase testing and contact tracing capabilities for the university community.

There is currently no medication to treat or prevent coronavirus. Like many viruses, steps may be taken to manage symptoms caused by coronavirus. Those who have become severely ill with the novel coronavirus have been hospitalized to receive care.

The novel coronavirus causing the current outbreak of illness has been officially named since the outbreak began. SARS-CoV-2 is the name of the virus itself, while COVID-19, which stands for coronavirus disease 2019, is the name of the illness the virus causes.

Self-monitoring means staying at home and avoiding group gatherings and public places. During this time, individuals should also monitor their health carefully, checking their temperature at least once a day. Learn more about what it means to self-monitor.

Quarantine is separating people who appear to be healthy but may have been exposed to a contagious illness to make sure that they do not become sick and spread the illness to others. It typically covers the “incubation period” of a given illness, which refers to the period of time between exposure and when symptoms of the illness are known to appear.

Isolation means keeping people who are sick and contagious separated from people who are healthy to ensure that they do not spread the illness.

There are four important steps you can take to protect your health and the health of others in your household and community. Temple will also be implementing these policies as its U.S. campuses are reopened in phases throughout the summer and for the fall 2020 semester. These measures are:

Face coverings: Everyone must wear face coverings in buildings, and their use is encouraged everywhere on campus. Masks will be available for those who don’t already have them and for those visiting campus.

Frequent hand washing: In addition to encouraging our community members to wash their hands frequently, hand sanitizer stations will soon be installed throughout Temple’s campuses, along with reminders to avoid touching your face after touching surfaces.

Maintaining a safe space between you and others: Social distancing reminders will be affixed on floors and walls of campus buildings to ensure that everyone remains at a safe distance when on-campus operations resume. Classrooms and other common spaces will have similar distancing requirements.

Monitoring your own health on a daily basis: Taking your temperature, watching for other symptoms and, if warranted, seeking help through your primary care physician or Student and Employee Health Services are important for everyone on campus. Most importantly, if you are sick, stay home and avoid contact with others to avoid spreading illness.